Amazing. If this has been patented several decades ago, it might have been something of interest. But 2002???

A guy in China has filed for a patent, described as a compass inside a motorcycle's dashboard. The idea is when you are lost, you can use the compass to see where you must go.

Right! Already following a GPS can be complicated but following a compass just telling you the NSWE direction you are heading is rather futile in today's techno-age. Only people with a lot of experience with maps and a compass can make head & tails of a compass.

So why would anyone want a compass today on their motorcycle? Or don't they have GPSs in China? Or is it to make this kind of direction finder easier..:

BMW entered the electric motorcycle market with their very advanced C-Evolution scooter, an electric scooter that looked straight out of a high-tech sci-fi blockbuster movie coming out of Hollywood.

With lots of advanced features, high performance (but not in the top speed department) and a reasonable range, despite the relative high purchase price, the Beemer has been selling very well. In several countries, like here in France, they have sold more than their allocated quota. One of their customers is yours truly.. (click here to read my detailed review).

Here are 9 photos of the production of the C-Evolution scooter in the BMW Berlin factory. below the photos is also a video of the actual production of the scoot. Enjoy.

A mechanic makes a technical check on a BMW C evolution electric maxi-scooter on the production line at the BMW Berlin motorcycle plant February 23, 2015. The storage capacity of the BMW C evolution's high-voltage 8 kWh battery provides a range of up to 100 kilometres and a maximum speed of 120 km/h. REUTERS/Fabrizio Bensch

BMW logos are displayed on the production line of the BMW C evolution electric maxi-scooter at the BMW Berlin motorcycle plant February 23, 2015. The storage capacity of the BMW C evolution's high-voltage 8 kWh battery provides a range of up to 100 kilometres and a maximum speed of 120 km/h. REUTERS/Fabrizio Bensch

An employee holds a BMW logo on the production line of the BMW C evolution electric maxi-scooter at the BMW Berlin motorcycle plant February 23, 2015. The storage capacity of the BMW C evolution's high-voltage 8 kWh battery provides a range of up to 100 kilometres and a maximum speed of 120 km/h. REUTERS/Fabrizio Bensch

A mechanic makes a final check on a BMW C evolution electric maxi-scooter on the production line at the BMW Berlin motorcycle plant February 23, 2015. The storage capacity of the BMW C evolution's high-voltage 8 kWh battery provides a range of up to 100 kilometres and a maximum speed of 120 km/h. REUTERS/Fabrizio Bensch

A mechanic cleans the surface of a BMW C evolution electric maxi-scooter on the production line at the BMW Berlin motorcycle plant February 23, 2015. The storage capacity of the BMW C evolution's high-voltage 8 kWh battery provides a range of up to 100 kilometres and a maximum speed of 120 km/h. REUTERS/Fabrizio Bensch

A mechanic operates a crane holding the high-voltage battery unit for a BMW C evolution electric maxi-scooter at the BMW Berlin motorcycle plant February 23, 2015. The storage capacity of the BMW C evolution's high-voltage 8 kWh battery provides a range of up to 100 kilometres and a maximum speed of 120 km/h. REUTERS/Fabrizio Bensch

A BMW C evolution electric maxi-scooter is displayed in a showroom at the BMW Berlin motorcycle plant February 23, 2015. The storage capacity of the BMW C evolution's high-voltage 8 kWh battery provides a range of up to 100 kilometres and a maximum speed of 120 km/h. REUTERS/Fabrizio Bensch

We've seen several HUD (Heads Up Display) projects make the headlines over the last 2 years or so. Between a USA and a Russian one, both are based on a specially made motorcycle helmet with built-in electronics and display. It means it's purpose built, and quite expensive. But what if you have a favorite helmet? Many of us swear by the motorcycle helmet manufacturer we use, whoever it may be.

And that is probably what Tyler Collins was thinking when he came up with this headsUP project and started looking for funds on the crowd-funding site Kickstarter.

The project calls for an electronics box and a display that can be placed on any type of helmet, in other words, your current (or future) helmet.

So, quite simple. Place the electronics box to the rear of your helmet, place the wire through the padding to the front, and place the screen on the top. The screen is semi-transparent, and the display is set up in such a way that your eyes do not need to focus on the display. You can see it without removing your eyes from the road and traffic.

The electronics box can be linked wirelessly to your smartphone, and receive navigation instructions, and the unit also plays the sound, i.e. navigation instructions.

This way you can be riding, checking up on your bike's speed when needed, and find out when to turn to reach your destination. And all that without ever having to look down, or away from the road or traffic.

The initial early bird prices are all gone already, but if you're quick and pledge US$225, one of these units could be yours early next year. Not a bad price.

Slowly but surely edging towards spring, but too slow for my taste. Still bloody cold and wet riding. But at least it gives me time to read motorcycle related articles on the internet. Here are a few I have been reading over the last week that you may have missed.

Spain is acting responsibly not like some other European countries. They really want to reduce road fatalities, so they are now going to make sure all radars, fixed and mobile, are very visible on the road, and they will even announce where there are. Even mobile check points. Great move.

Now another group of politicians in France, the opposition party (UMP), want the spot light, and to hell with the consequences. They have proposed a new law that will make it mandatory for all motorcycle riders and their pillions to wear gloves and have dorsal protection.

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